SPORTS MASSAGE

Athletes or sportspeople are highly trained, finely tuned individuals who are usually totally focused on achieving success in their particular field. They will train and stress the body to its limit, i.e. to the point of breakdown. They may train too hard and too frequently in an effort to improve performance. Hard training with inadequate rest periods to allow full recovery will result in a decline in performance and leave the body vulnerable to serious injury.

As a result of over-training and incomplete recovery, the athlete may suffer from any of the following symptoms: vague aches and pains; acute pain in muscles, bones or joints; inflammation of tendons, ligaments or bursa resulting in pain and swelling; and symptoms of stress such as headaches, listlessness, tension, insomnia or increased irritability.

Athletes and their trainers should be made aware that hard training must be balanced with rest periods to allow adequate or full recovery of the tissues and restore homeostasis (body balance). The harder and longer the training, the longer the rest periods should be. If homeostasis is not restored and tissue recovery is incomplete, then the level of performance will eventually decline. Massage following training and performance will greatly hasten recovery of the tissues. Research indicates that recovery is four to five times faster in tissues receiving massage than those simply allowed to rest. A shorter recovery time allows for a greater number of training sessions, which will improve performance.

Benefits of sports massage

Massage increases the blood flow through the area being massaged,

Massage generates heat in the tissue,

Massage speeds up venous and lymphatic drainage from the area which removes the waste products of metabolism,

Massage increases the flexibility of tissues,

Massage provides an early warning system to the risk of potential injury,

Massage will break down or stretch inflexible scar tissue found in muscles, tendons or ligaments of the sportsperson,

Massage around joints will improve the circulation and generate warmth,

Massage improves flexibility and elasticity of hard bulky, inelastic muscles following hard isometric exercise training,

Massage will promote local or general relaxation.

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